“Senex puerum portabat, puer autem senem regebat: quem Virgo peperit, et post partum Virgo permansit: ipsum quem genuit, adoravit (The old man was carrying the Child, but the Child was ruling the old man. The Virgin bore him, and after child-bearing remained a virgin: he whom she bore, she adored).” —St. Augustine
Today is the feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, also called the feast of the Purification of Mary. It marks the end of the Christmas season. On this day, since the Light of the world—Christ—came to the Temple, candles are blessed, hence the English title Candlemas (Mass of Candles).
This feast commemorates the Gospel event wherein Joseph and Mary, as devout Jews, obeyed the law of Moses requiring them to dedicate a firstborn son to God and Mary to be ritually purified in the Temple 40 days after Jesus’s birth. While there, the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph) encountered two holy individuals with the gift of prophecy, Simeon and Anna. Through Simeon and Anna, Baby Jesus’s visit to the Temple became a theophany, or a revelation of God. Indeed, one name for this feast among Byzantine Catholics is “the Encounter.” Like Simeon and Anna, we must all encounter Christ and recognize Him as our Savior, our only path to Heaven.
But while Anna rejoiced that Jesus would bring the “redemption of Israel,” and Simeon announced a “light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel,” Simeon had a warning too. Jesus would be a “sign which shall be contradicted,” and, through the suffering of her Son, Mary would feel a sword of sorrow pierce her heart. That prophecy was finally fulfilled at Christ’s Passion and death, although the Catholic Church also remembers seven particular events which caused Mary to experience deep sorrow, with Simeon’s prophecy as one of them.
As we end the Christmas season today, let us encounter Christ our Savior and vow, through both sorrow and joy, to make for Him a Temple in our hearts. Read the Gospel account in Luke 2:22-39:
“And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord: And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons: And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him.
And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day. Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth.”
Have a blessed feast!
Everyone have a Blessed Candlemas. As we move from the Exodus 10:21 9th plague of 3 days of darkness towards St Padre Pio’s “potential” additional 3 days of darkness (unless we do enough communal repentance, prayer. Fasting, Charity and penances), remember Jesus is the literal light of the world. So bright it blinded Better Call Saul St Paul on the road to Damascus. God Bless All, 🙏🙏🙏🙏